President Barack Obama met Thursday with members of the 1963 Loyola (Chicago) University basketball team, which won the NCAA championship 50 years ago. But it was their win in the semifinal game vs. Mississippi State that held an incredible social significance.

While an unwritten college rule said that only two black players could be in a starting lineup, Loyola had four black starters at the time. Meanwhile, Mississippi State had to sneak out of the state to even play the game, as an unwritten state law forbid it. The contest came to be known as the Game of Change.

“We have been told by so many different people that we have accomplished a lot,” said Jerry Harkness, the captain of that team, via the school’s website. “But now, to have the opportunity to meet President Obama, we have reached the zenith of all of this. You realize you have accomplished something incredibly special when you are recognized by the President.”

Harkness gave Obama a framed picture of himself shaking hands at center court with Mississippi State captain Joe Dan Gold. The Ramblers won that game by 10, then beat Cincinnati in overtime to deny the Bearcats their third straight title.